Copy of Test Review for To Kill a Mockingbird 2025

Test Overview

• Review for To Kill a Mockingbird test

• Honors English 9

• Format: Multiple choice (60 points) and Short Answer/Writing (40 points)

Key Literary Terms and Concepts

Plot

• Definition: Sequence of interconnected events within the story.

• Importance: Foundation of the narrative, driving themes, symbols, and character development.

• Components:

  • Exposition: Introduction of characters and setting.

  • Rising Action: Chain of events leading up to the climax.

  • Climax: The turning point of the narrative.

  • Falling Action: Events following the climax leading to resolution.

  • Resolution: Conclusion of the narrative.

Subplot

• Definition: A supporting side story that complements the main plot.

• Example in TKAM: The Boo Radley story serves as a subplot, reflecting themes of prejudice alongside the trial of Tom Robinson.

Parallel Plot

• Definition: Simultaneously developed separate storylines that connect by theme or character.

• Example in TKAM: The interwoven stories of Boo Radley and Tom Robinson highlight underlying social issues.

Characters

Major Characters

• Scout Finch: Protagonist and narrator; offers a child's perspective on complex social issues.

• Jem Finch: Scout’s brother who grows alongside her in understanding their world.

• Atticus Finch: Their father, representing morality and justice.

• Boo Radley: Mysterious neighbor, symbolic of innocence.

• Tom Robinson: Black man accused of raping a white woman; represents racial injustice.

• Bob Ewell: Antagonist; represents ignorance and prejudice.

Themes and Conflicts

Protagonist and Antagonist

• Protagonist: Leading character (Scout); essential for plot development.

• Antagonist: Bob Ewell; creates conflict, embodies societal prejudice and hostility.

Social Issues

• Definition: Problems that affect society, creating challenges in narratives.

• Examples in TKAM: Racial prejudice towards Tom Robinson and Boo Radley.

Conflict Types

• Main Conflict: The central struggle involving racial and social injustice.

• Internal Conflict: Scout’s loss of innocence as she grapples with the harsh realities of her community.

• External Conflict: Struggle against societal norms and the injustices inflicted by characters like Bob Ewell.

Narrative Perspective and Literary Devices

Point of View

• Definition: The vantage point from which the story is told.

• Importance: Scout’s immature perspective shapes readers’ understanding of events.

Foreshadowing

• Definition: Literary device indicating future events.

• Example in TKAM: The broken arm of Jem hints at conflicts later in the story.

Setting

• Definition: Time, place, and circumstances of the narrative.

• Relevance to TKAM: 1930s Great Depression and Jim Crow laws influence character behavior and societal attitudes.

Dialect

• Definition: Regional language forms used in dialogues.

• Importance: Establishes setting and character backgrounds in TKAM, reflecting historical context.

Themes and Imagery

Themes

• Definition: Recurring ideas that convey deeper meanings within the narrative.

• Relevant Themes in TKAM: Courage, family, prejudice.

Imagery

• Definition: Descriptive language that engages the reader’s senses.

• Examples in TKAM: Visual depictions of the rabid dog incident, Mrs. Dubose’s struggles, life in the Radley house.

Symbolism

• Definition: Use of symbols to represent larger ideas beyond the literal.

• Key Symbols in TKAM:

  • Mockingbirds: Represent innocence.

    • Tom Robinson: Innocent victim of racial prejudice.

    • Boo Radley: Misunderstood figure symbolic of goodness.